It seems like the stuff of science fiction: the ability to manipulate matter atom by individual atom into new structures, some imitating those found in nature, others completely novel.
September 28, 2012 What is nanotechnology? What should the public know about it as it makes its way into food and agriculture? Why is it still unregulated? IATP's Steve Suppan explains.
It’s moving fast: The promised benefits of nanotechnology in food applications are astounding, almost unbelievable. For example, applying certain nanomaterials (simply put: materials manipulated at an atomic level) to conveyer belts in food production plants could prevent pathogen growth by keeping the belts clean and lowering the chance of contamination.
Nanotechnology-based food and health products and food packaging materials are available to consumers in some countries already, and additional products and applications are currently in the research and development stage, and some may reach the market soon.
On December 21, IATP joined five other NGOs, headed by the International Center for Technology Assessment (ICTA), to sue the Food and Drug Administration for failure to regulate nanoparticles.
